It's still the economy as Sen. Barack Obama rolls up support among groups who have not supported
a Democrat for decades to lead Republican Sen. John McCain in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania,
according to simultaneous Quinnipiac University Swing State polls released today.

With 12 days to go, Sen. McCain is narrowing the gap in Florida, but fading in Ohio and
barely denting Sen. Obama's double-digit lead in Pennsylvania.

No one has been elected President since 1960 without taking two of these three largest
swing states in the Electoral College. Results from the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-
ack) University polls show:

By margins of eight to 19 points, voters in each state say they trust Obama more than
McCain to handle the economy.

By smaller margins of two to six points, voters say they trust McCain more than Obama
to handle foreign policy.

"As we enter the home stretch, Sen. Obama is winning voter groups that no Democrat has
carried in more than four decades, and he holds very solid leads in the big swing states. If these
numbers hold up, he could win the biggest Democratic landslide since Lyndon Johnson in 1964,"
said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Voters are scared about their economic futures and have decided that Sen. Obama is Mr.
Fix-it," Brown added.

"Sen. Obama is no longer the candidate of the young, the well-educated and minorities.
He is now virtually the candidate of the 'all.' He is winning among all age groups in all three
states. He wins women by more than 20 points in Ohio and Pennsylvania and is competitive
among men in all three states. Whether voters went to college or not, they are voting for him.

"Perhaps the most remarkable development is that Obama is doing significantly better
among white, born again evangelicals in Ohio and Pennsylvania than did Democratic nominee
John Kerry four years ago. He also is winning Roman Catholics in those states, historically the
key swing voter group in the electorate and synonymous here with the blue-collar vote.

"In Florida, Obama's margin over McCain is due mostly from stronger support from
Hispanics than Kerry received."

President George W. Bush's approval ratings are:

27 - 66 percent in Florida;

22 - 72 percent in Ohio;

21 - 73 percent in Pennsylvania.

Florida

Among those who say they already have voted in Florida, Obama gets 48 percent to
McCain's 44 percent, a statistical tie in this smaller subgroup. .

The economy is the most important election issue, 61 percent of Florida voters say, and
voters trust Obama more than McCain to handle the economy, 51 - 43 percent, compared to
53 - 39 percent October 1.

"To overcome Sen. Obama's lead in Ohio, Sen. McCain would have to get virtually every
voter who remains undecided plus almost all of the Obama supporters who said they still might
change their minds - a very small percentage possibility," Brown said.
Pennsylvania

"Sen. Obama leads comfortably in Pennsylvania, mostly because he has pulled ahead in the
four key suburban counties surrounding Philadelphia where Keystone State races are decided,"
said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Obama is leading among whites and blue collar workers, but white men and 15 percent
of Sen. Hillary Clinton's primary supporters are clinging to Sen. McCain, probably not enough to
change the tide in the closing days of the campaign," Richards added.

From October 16 - 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed:

1,433 Florida likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percent;

1,360 Ohio likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percent;

1,425 Pennsylvania likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.
For more data and RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates
were Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would
you vote?(If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or
McCain? This table includes "Leaners". (* pre debate, ** post debate)

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates
were Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would
you vote?(If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or
McCain? This table includes "Leaners". (* pre debate, ** post debate)

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates
were Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would
you vote?(If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or
McCain? This table includes "Leaners". (* pre debate, ** post debate)